Metallurgical apparatus.



W. MGA. JOHNSON.

MBTALLURGICAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION -.FILED SEPT. 20, 1909. BENBWED DEG.V27,1912. 1,069,260, Patented Aug, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

j- WIYTNESSES.'

W. MGA. JOHNSON.

METALLURGIGAL APPARATUS. APPLIGATION FILED SBF120, 1909. RENBWED DBO. 27,1912.

Patented Aug. 5, 1913.'

3 SEEBTS-SHEET 2.

MFH Y OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOQ 000000OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO r ed WITNESSES:

W. MGA. JOHNSON.

METALLURGIGAL APPARATUS. APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1909. RENEWED DBO. 27,1912.

1,669,260. Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES.'

l NTED STATES :snr ori-lires. l

I WOOLSEY Me.. Jonnson, ornanrroan; connncrrccr.

METALLURGICAI. APPARATUS.

incasso.'

Specification of Letters Patent.

Tfal t may cdncem.'

` Be, it known that l, WOOLSEY MoA. JorrN- son, a citizen of the United States, residing-at Hartford, the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut,f-have invented certain new and -useful mprovements' in Metallurgical Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact' description, such as will 'enable others skilled inthe-art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to metallurgical ap-- paratus such as that having the capacity of condensing metallic vapors at carefully controlled temperatures, but inasmuch as cer-v `tain advantages characteristic of this -invention prominently appear in its more intense aspect as a means instrumental in continu-l ously condensing vapors of zinc such as those obtained from a gas, electric, or other zinc furnace, it will be conducive to clear-` ness t-o disclose this invention by Way of such embodiment thereof.

This invent-ion has in objective an apparatus capable of being built at low cost, from the standpoint of commercial eiliciency, so constructed and designed as to enable a skilled workman to readily handle and' operate the same, and of such nature as will not only very eiiiciently condense the Zinc vapors, but also enable the temperatures to be controlled wit-hin commercially close limits.

(lt-her objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

`The inventionaccordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplifiedin the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In order that this invention may be the more fully disclosed and otherwise/made comprehensible to those skilled in this art, drawings of one of the many possible embqdiments thereof have been appended as a part of this disclosure, and in such drawings like characters o f reference denote corresponding parts lthroughout the several views, of which-4v Figure l is a lon 'tudinah vertical section showing many of t e details of construction which may be employed; Fig. 2 is a cross,'

v .1 gjFig. 3 isan enlarged section showingone ,of several available devices arranged within one of the condensing tubes and which devices present a corrugated or recessed surface 'forthe reception of the multiplicity of pools of liquid, metallic Zinc, the presence of which accelerates and otherwise facilitates the condensation of vapors; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the .device shown. by Fig; Fig.` 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a system of radiators adapted to be variably rendered operative according to the selection of the Workman, so as to control the temperature of the furnace Within very close 'liinits speaking from a commercial standpoint. Y

Continuing now by way of a more detailed description of this embodiment of my invention, making such occasional references to the vdrawings as may be indicated by the reference characters, A indicates a zinc fur- Patented Aug. 5, 1913. J Application l'e'd Septemherz, 1909, Serial Nc.,518,529. Renewed December 27, 1312. vSerial No. 738,986.

nace of suitable construction capable of pro- Y ducing in the chamber l vapors of metallic Zinc. While, perhaps, other forms of zinc furnaces are available in this connection, l prefer to use the gas or electric zinc furnace. The gases are educted from such furnace at the temperature 'of zinc reduction, z'. e., 102()o to 11000, and consists chiefly of zinc vapor and carbon monoxid in molecularly equal parts. This gas is received by the 'f openings 2 of the condensing pipes or vessels B, which are constructed of some suitable material, as of iron or otherwise, capable of withstanding the temperature at which the condensation of zinc vapor takes place These pipes may be fastened tightly at their openings 2 into `the wall 3 zinc reduction furnace so asto maintain a vapor-tight connection therewith. At their ends, however, these pipes preferably pass through sleeves 4t so that. they may slip therethrough when expanded under ten) perature elevations and thus prevent the wall 5 of the condenser from being bulged or otherwise broken. Inasmuch as these condenser pipes are preferably quite long and they arepreferably supported at intermediate points by walls or partitions `6 and 7,

whichv partitions carry perforations 8 and 9v for emitting thecirculation of thetem- :PQM 11113 Qontrolling gases,

'maintained at a fairly high temperatura.

3 itially bringt-he apparatus to. the -desired ln -lieu of such fire-box o r In order-'that the condensing pipesmaly be kept at the proper ,temperature for con-l densing zincy vapor, which enters from the reduction furnace, a re-boX D is provided having a grate and the usualvre-door'v 11, so that coal may be burned if desired to intemperatnre. l y auxiliary thereto, there. may be provided'v a gas-pipe l2 leadingto any suitable. gas' burnensothatthe initial temperature may he obtained from the combustionof gaseous or liquid fuel, -if desired, which inY certain instances would 'be of'advantage inv view of the' greater readinessf'with' lwhich-perfect regulation ofthe temperatures may be .ob-A tained under lthese con`diti ms. Uverlying the're-box D' there is preferably aperforated tire-brick 'arch 13 which' assists-the regular generation andv distribution lof the heated gases. These gasesfor initially heat-- ing the condenser. `pipes pass upwardly'into a chamber E, thence into vchamberV v Fthrough` A the opening 8, then' into chamberG through the opening 9, and finally. pass o'utthrougli` p the discharge pipe H. In this connection, it

may be statedjthat the heating andjte'm'peraturel confining -structure has its" inner walls' -v preferably made of 'fire-brick andits outerv Walls` 14 may be made: o f"sheetqiron Supported by `the skeleton frameworkjof structuralsteel, and lietiwcen'lthev,innen and outer walls there may be used a thicklpacking l5.- of asbestos, infusorial earth, or mineral wool.

The object ofv this arrangement is' to' makeT the interior of the condenser eifciently and j "practically thermally insulated from the sur-v 'rounding atmosphere." lVith thisjconstruci tion the heat.v abstracted by? eduction; radia-l tion, or convection is negligible with regard to the total lheat evolved in the condensation.

`In' starting up the apparatus-"combustion will rst be'in'augurated in thef-fire-box D,

and 'the'heat thereof carried ato' alll parts 'of the pipes byincreasing or decreasing the draftof the re'or opening the'furnace door.

vkIt is possible 'to bring and keepthe tempera- 'ture of the pipes low-enough to lcarry off the heatedy condensation and high enough to insure 'the condensation of metal, and also highl enough to preventthe formation of what is knownas. flue powder 7 or Zinc a snow. Initially,"theheat condensing pipe is preferably raised to a temperature above the meltingpoint of zinc,-z'. e., 450 C., so as to prevent thcvlformation of .aine d ust vor flue -powder rwhichv would otherwise rapidly te up .the pipes. vThe gases from the zinc 'ion furnace are then passed into the en ends'. ofthe pipes B and thereupon conaided lley-'means of a number of members K supported in sonie'suitable 'manner within `the condenser `pipes and which present surfaces 16 providing a multiplicity of shallow recesses 17 in which the condensed'zinc may collect in the form of pools of molten metal.'

These pools in the aggregate present a large surface of molten metal, and the vapors are very helpful in bringing about a proper condensation.r The 'zinc forms in these pools and on the inside walls ofthe condenser as small drops', which gradually coalesce and run to the'bottfom. of these pipes.4 As such pipes are inclined the molten metal trickles downward toward the front of the condenser,

furnace4 near whichis a ltransversey pipe M connected Vby vertical pipes 18 to all of the `(.verlying 'inclined condenser pipes. This transverse pipe is the collector and one. end of it l?)` projects through the side of the wall, as shown in Fig. 2, and the cap is preferably provideil with'a 'sin-all hole near'the bottoni at a point indicated by 20, which maybe closed with applug of tire-"clay so that when suiicient'-metal is'collected in this receiver Yit may be tapped the usual "manner and themoltenymetal caught'in a'ladle`,the` hole again replugged when the said ladle is full'.

. It'will "be .understood that some provision "mustbefmade for theV escape of the vapors toffcarbong-m'onoxid which accompany the Zinc vapors, and tothis'end the protruding forward e'n'ds Iofthe inclined condenser pipes B are preferably:provided with" caps .2l belted' or o'thefr-wise secured to the'said pipes.

`Nearthe topfn of each of these caps there is provided' asmall vent 22 of'about of an derneaththe hood N which leads to suitable condensing chamber or bag indicated by O. The ycarbon monoxid which escapes through zinc yvaporis ignited and burns to carbon dioXidv and zinc oXid, which latter will be collected' in theY 'condensing chamber or bag-house similarly tothe ordinary' operation, and the' Zinc vapor thus saved in the form of solid zinc oxidA 'or ue powder.

ln "case the inclined condensing pipes should for ang.7 reason or other stuft up -by reason of an imperfect condensation, withft'he"re-v this vent, `together'with a similar residue of sultant formation -ofV fine powder, thev tool. It will thus be perceived that int-his apparat-us it is' impossible fort-he metal to flow back into the reduction furnace and be rapidly vaporized with a loss of'zinc and danger to the workmen, because the condensing pipes are inclined away and at the same time it is comparatively eas'yrto clean out these pipes Whenever occasion demands. Moreover, the pipes may be separately tapped if desired, and the metal'taken out of each one separately.

As has 'been implied in the foregoing, condensation depends upon temperature, on the surface to which theminute drops can cling, and onv the presence of the liquid to, which the vapor condenses. Ihe tempera--v ture regulation in our condenser may bev provided -as above described by the furnace and" by opening the doors or closingthe draft thereof, and in this manner it 1s possible to control the temperature to within very close limits, especially if the furnace be intermittently employed at such times as the supply of heatl evolved by the process of condensation may belowered. In the normal operation, however, there will be an excess of heat due to the condensation of zinc vapor to metallic' zinc', and -for the/ purpose of absorbing this excess heat the radiating system set forth in Fig. may be employed. In this instance the heat of condensation is carried oii' by rapidly cir- 'culating the gases outside the pipes by means of a fan with water cooled bearings and thin radiators oficast iron in which the amount of radiating surface is con! trolled independently bysuitable valves. The cooled gases from the radiating system enter the condensing apparatus at the furnace end, where they abstract the heat from the pipes heated by the hot gases of'reduc` tion, and, being slightly heated, are rapidly circulated with an increase'of temperature of only a few degrees .to the cooler end.' By this rapid countercurrent of heat flow the entire number of condensing pipes are kept at precisely the right temperature for condensing 'at a maximum rate and with the minimum formation of ilue powder. .Ii have ascertained, that' itis of great importance that the tem erature of the zinc 'condenser be maintaine very accurately at the predetermined temperature and to this mend I have devised a system whereby the operator can control very slight iuctuations in tem erature with a minimum of effort. It sho d: herebe stated that when zinc condenses-considerable heat is'evolved and this m heat should be withdrawn or extracted at a rate bearing a proportion to the rateA at which such heat is evolved, as well as to the' amount of heat extracted from the hot vapors from the reduction furnaoe,-so that the: temperature may not unduly rise in the condenser, nor fall too low therein. Turning, now, to Fig; 5, A indicates diagram# matically the zinc condenser, and P' indicates a heat radiator which is connected therewith by means of pipes and 26. In vpipe 25 there is interposed a motor driven fan R which operates to withdraw the hot air throu h pipev2 andi force. the same through tde system of radiators. The hear-- inge otthil fan are preferably water cooled not'in a limitin lso as not to become unduly heated. The vradiator S is constructed in a characteristic manner, that is to say,- it comprises a series of units of diverse capacities which are I capable' of being thrown in and out, so as 70 to vary the sum total of the radiating lsurface 'within closely determined' limits. .These units, as to their capacity-and number, are Apreferably arranged somewhat afterthe fashion-of aset of weights for a balance, so that while it is onlynecessary to use the minimum number of units, nevertheless the widesti'latitude in variations ofradiating surface .is permitted. Thus 27 indica'testhe smallest radiator which has what may be regarded as the unitary capacity. 2 8 and 29, respectively, represent two' additional radiators each having twice the capacity or radiating surface of N o. 27. 30 shows a larger radiator having a ca acity. of tive times that represented by t e unitary radiator 27:. 31 represents a radiator having a capacity often.` 32 and '33, respectively, represent radiators having each av capacity of twenty; and 34 represents a'radiator having 'a capacity of fifty. Each 'of these radiators', which may be of any usual' construction, areby means of hand valves 35 interposed between the pipes 25 and 26 so that the operator, by 95,

merely turning-one of the valves can throw in-as many radiators as he desires, and in such assortment orarrangement as would give the sought-for result. By`this system and arrangement in capacity radiators, it is possible to very readily obtain any radiating surface which may be desired,A and therefore it is in like manner possible to control the temperature of the zinc condensing chamber to within very exact limits. It will thus be seen that I havedevised an' apparatus exceedingly well adapted for the condensation of 'zinc vapor.- By means of the circulating gases, which are at atemperaturenof a little less than .415 C., the 110 amount of heat given out to such gas, plus the small amount lost. bythe condenser, is exactly eqhal to the amount of heat necessary to cool the gases of reduction to bring about the proper condensation of the zinc content.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this -invention could be made without departing 12e from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above descrip tion or shown in the accompanying drawings shallfbe interpreted Ias illustrative'and sense. A

It is also to eunderstood thatthe langua e used inthe following claims is inten ed' to cover all of the generic and specic" features of' the invention herein deand all staterments of Athe scope .of laov Ithe invention which as a matter of language might said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. An apparatus of the nature disclosed for condensing metallic vapors to regulus comprising in combination@l source of metallic vapors, aii elongated vessel communicating at one end with said sourcet and having an opening to permit the escape of accumulatinggnses; acoven member movably arranged "und havin member mounted on said o'ii duid vessel whereb access may be ained tothe interior thereo means indepen ent of the source of vapors arranged in conjunction with said vessel whereby the same may ,bs maintained at a closely controlled predetion with t pipe having an aperture escape of gases accumulntin 'closure circumscribing imperforate portions ci seid pipe and having passages for the circulstion of heating gases, and a furnace adaptedto discharge gases free from zinc vapors atan elevated temperair ntosaid enable access to with *est* Pmi receptacle wherebyrtions of said pipel may be uniformly maintained at a predetermined condensing tniperatiire.

3. An apparatus of the nature disclosed for condensing metallic vapors to re lus comprising in combination, a source o me'- tall'io vapors, .a plurality of elongated inciined vessels communicating at one end with 1 said source and having an aperture permitting the escape 'of gases accumulating therein, cover members mounted on said vessels to be had to the interior than of, 'an inclosure circumscribing the major portions cfsaid vessels and having a wall in 'which said vessels are-sldably mounted at .thoir-ends, and' agurnace independent o! said source of vapors adapted toldischa heated gases into said receptacle where said vessels may be maintained at a prede-L tcrmined uniform temperature.

4`. An apparatus of the nature disclosed for condensing metallic vapors to regulus comprising in combination, a receptacle containin metallic vapors, a es gated n clined pipes bond at 'one end in a wall o! laid receptacle and havin their interiora'in fue communication th'tho intcrior of said rcoecpitnacl said pipe! provided s t .n mi et nu! wlurality o! elon-4 .cumulnting therein, a cover member mounted on one or more of said pipes to enable access to be had to the interior thereof, an inclosure circumscribiiig the major portions of said pipes and having a wall through which said pi s slidably protrude at their ends, and ai urnace adapted to discharge heated gases Afree from zinc vapors into said recepat a predetermined uniform temperature.

5,\)An apparatus of the nature disclosed for "condensing metallic vapors to re lus 'comprising in combination, a source o metallic vapors, an elongated vessel communicating at one end with said source and having an opening to permit the escape of accumulating uses, means for collecting the valuable pro ucts contained in said escaping gases, a cover member iiiovubly arranged on .said vessel whereby access may be gained to vthe interior thereof, liest absorbing means arran ed iii conjunction with said vessel where y the same may be maintained at a predetermined condensing temperature, and means for enabling the molten metal within said vessel to be withdrawn.

6. An apparatus of the nature disclosed for condensing metallic vapors to regulus comprising in combination, a receptacle containin metallic vapors, an elongated pipe bonds at one end. in a ,wallv of said receptacle, and having its interior in free communication with the interior of said vapor containing receptacle, said pipo having an aperture permitting the escape and combustion of gases accumulating therein, a hood arranged adjacent said aperture for collecting the solid vali'iable products ofcombustion, a cover member mounted on said pipe t9 enable access to be had to the interior thereof, an inclosure circumscribing portions of' said pipe and having passages for the circulation of heating gases, and a furnace adapted to dis- 'char gases free from zinc vapors at an elevate temperature into said receptacle whereby portions of said pi e may be uni- `forxnly maintained at a pre etermined temperature.

7. An apparatus of the nature disclosed for condensing metallic vapors to re lus comprising in combination, a source or meolined" vessels communicating at one ,end with said source and having an aperture porinittiiithe escape ofgases accumulating liereinna ood arran ed ad acont said aperture for collecti t e va uable products thereof, cover mem rs mounted on said veslela to enable access to be' had to the interior thereof, an -inclosure circumscribing 'the ma oiporticna of said vessels and havin a wa `in which said vessels are slida ly mounted at theirands, and a furnace indo pendent' of said source of vapors adapted to tscle whereby said pipes maybe maintained 11o i i' `tallic vapors, a' plurality of elongated inisc incasso discharge heated gases into said Jreceptacle whereby said vessels may be maintained at a predetermined uniform temperature.

8. An apparatus of the nature disclosed for condensing metallic vapors to regulus comprising in combination, a receptacle containing metallic vapors, aplurality of elongated inclined pipes bonded at one end in a ivall of said receptacle and having theirinteriors in free communication with`the interior of said receptacle` said pipes prov-idingvents permitting the escape and combustion of gases accumulating` therein, means arranged adjacent said' vents for collecting the solid products of combustion, a cover member mounted on one or more of said pipes to enable access to be had to the interior thereof, an inclosure ciicumscribing the major portions of said pipes and having a Wall through which said pipes slidably protrude at their ends, and a furnace independent of the source of metallic vapors adapted to discharge heated gases into said receptacle whereby said pipes may be maintained at a predetermined uniform temperature. Y

9. An apparatus of thevnature disclosed for condensing metallic vapors to regulus comprising in combination, a. source of metallic vapors, an elongated-vessel communieating at one end Withgsaid source and having an opening to permit the escape of accumulatim and means for enabling the molten metal i condensed Within said vessel to be vvith-v l0. An'apparatus of the nature disclosed for condensing metallic vapors to regulus comprising in combination, a. receptacle containing metallic vapors, an elongated pipe bonded at one end in a Wall of said receptacle and having its interior in free communication vvith the interior of said receptacle, said pipe having an aperture permitl ting tlie escape of gases accumulating therein, and also provided with an interior surface having a multiplicity of shallow recesses inwhich pools of condensed metal may collect, a cover member mounted on said pipe to enable access to be had to the i interior thereof, an inclosiire circumscribing gases, said vessel liaving in itsinterior a surface providing aA plurality of l1. An apparatus of the nature disclosed for condensing metallic vapors to regulus comprising in combination, a source of metallic vapors, a plurality of elongated inclined vessels communicating at one end with said` source and having an aperture permitting the escape' of gases accumulating therein, members provided with surfaces having numerous shallow recesses contained the escape of gases accumulating thereinA` cover members mounted on said vessels to .enable access to be had to the interior thereof, an inclosure circumscribing the major portions of said vessels and having a Wall in .which said vessels are slidably mounted at their ends, and a furnace adapted to discharge'heated gases into said receptacle ywhereby 'sa/id vessels may be maintained at a predetermined uniform temperature.

l2. An apparatus of the nature disclosed comprising in combination, a receptacle containing metallic vapors, a plurality ofelon- Wall of said receptacle and having their interiors in free communication with the 1nterior of said receptacle, members movably surfaces having a multiplicity of shallow recesses, said. pipes providing vents permittingthe escape of gases accumulating therein, cover members mounted on said pipes to enable access to be had to the interior thereof, an inclosure circumscribingl the ma-jor through which said pipes slidably. protrude charge heated. gases into saidh receptacle whereby said pipes may be maintained at a predetermined uniform temperature.

13. An apparatus of the nature disclosed for condensing metallic vapors to regulus comprising in combination, a source of metallic vapors, an elongated vessel communieating at one end of said source and having` an opening to permit the escape of accumulating gases, a cover member movably arranged o-n said vessel Whereby'accessmay be gained to the interior thereof, a lire-box comprising means for introducing and burning gases arranged in conjunction With said at a predetermined condensing temperature, and means for enabling the molten metal condensed Wthin said vessel to be VWithdrawn: Y v- 14. An apparatus of the natiiredisclosed for condensing metallic vaporsto regulus comprising in combination, a receptacle c911- taining metallic vapors, an elongated pipe bonded at one end in a wall of said recep tacle having its interior in free communication "with the Vinterir of said receptacle, said i pipe having an aperture permitting the esvvitliin said vessels, an aperture permittingV for condensing metallic vapors to regulus gated inclined pipes bonded at one end in a contained yvithin'said pipes provided With s 10o portions of said pipes and having anivall at their ends, and a furnace adapted .to dis vessel whereby the same may be maintained cape of gases accumula-ting"therein, a cover member mounted' on said pipe to enable access to be had to the interior thereof, an inclosure circumscribing portions of said pipe vand having passages for thecirculation of comprising in combination, a source of me-. v

tallic vapo-rs, a plurality of .elongated inf clined vessels communicating at one end withJsaid source and having an aperture permitting the vescape of gases accumulating therein, cover members mounted onl said vessels to enable access to be' hadto lthe inS combustiblev gases, a or both, fo

terior thereofh anfinclosure circumscribing the mager portions ofA saidl vessels and hav-- ing a Wall through'vvhich said vessels-are slidably mounted on theirends, and a furnace adapted*- to burn'either lsolid fuel or i discharging heated products ofcombustioninto'said receptacle t hereby said vessels maybe maintained at .predetermined uniform temperature'. Y' A.

1 6.,l An apparatus of the' nature disclosed for condensing metallic vapors to regulus comprising in combination, a receptacle containing metallic vapors, a plurality of elon` gated inclined pipes bonded at one end in a Wall of said receptacle and having their in-v teriors in free communication with the in- Copies of this patent may be A obtained for I l terior of. "said receptacle, said pipesl pro viding vents permitting the escape of gases accumulating therein',- a cover member mounted on one or more of -said pipes to enable access to bev hadL` to the interioithereof,

an inclosure circumsbribing .the major portions of said 'pipes and having `Va Wall through Whichsaid pipes slidably protrude `at their'ends, and a, furnace adapted to burn either solid fuel or :combustible gases, or both, for discharging heated products vof combustion into said` receptacle whereby said pipes may be maintained at. a predetermined uniform temperature.

comprising, in combination, a condenser, a radiator consisting of a plurality of sections,

1,7. An apparatus 'of the nat-ure disclosed andmeans for connecting one or more of saidf sections with said condenser whereby a.-

fluid may becontinuously passed from said condenser through said radiators and re- 4vturned to saidcondensr and thus maintain the-'flatter at a predetermined temperature. V118. An apparatus ofthe nature disclosed comprising, in combinatgion, a zinccondenser having a jacket, a heat ifadiator, a pipe leading froml said radiator 1.o said jacket, means for causing gases to fiouv tlir'ough said pipe into said radiator and g.: taiifiizto said condenser, and meansA for'zv u; surface of said radiator..

In testimony whereof Al:afiiimysignature,

` in the presence -of twojinsl,

ransom f WOOLSEY' naaf 'Wi'tiiesfsesl: .Y

HARRY H. Howaita, Y v

CHARLES MSrARiiWEgi-Iiinii.

Washington, LD. G.-

g @the radiating -V ve cents each, by addressing the Conimissiqgeinfof Patents, 

